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The History of Askham Bryan College

A brief overview of the fascinating history of Askham Bryan College starting back before the second world war

Celebrating 75 Years

This year, the college is delighted to be celebrating 75 years of providing specialist land-based education and training to students.

A year of celebrations with students, staff, employers and other key stakeholders, will get underway in September 2023.

During the last 75 years, the college has developed a regional and national reputation and significantly grown its student and staff community and course offer.

As one of the top specialist land based colleges in the UK, it has increasingly adapted to provide the qualifications and skills that land based employers need.

The Early Years

• 1086 - What’s In A Name?

• 1936 - The Foundation Stone Is Laid

• 1939-1947 The War Effort

• 1948 - The First Student Arrive

1086 - What’s In A Name?

Mentioned in the Domesday Book, the name Askham is thought to derive from the Anglo-Saxon “Asch” meaning an ash tree and “ham”, a homestead. Anglo-Saxon England was an agricultural society, with the population living in self-supporting villages. At some point a family or group of famers cleared sufficient land in Askham Bryan to grow their arable crops (c. 480-960 acres).

Meadows were vital to medieval agriculture, valued higher than arable land since hay was the only fodder crop available to take animals through the Winter. It is thought that the Ings, to the South East of the village towards Askham Bog, is the most likely location for the 3 acres of meadow recorded in the Domesday survey.

The College was built adjacent to the village on the Ainsty Ridge in 1938 on the south facing slopes.

The 'Swinging Sixties' Begin

• 1960S - The Start Of A Major Building Programme

• 1980S - Pioneering Educcation

• 1990S - A Higher Education Offer

1960S - The Start Of A Major Building Programme

A considerable building programme was planned to run over several years, beginning in 1964 with completion of Conference Hall, phase 1 of the machinery workshops, Arkendale hostel for 28 students, and conversion of the old Dairy Building into labs for applied science.

In 1965 Bishopdale hostel was added and in 1968 the teaching block and phase 2 of the machinery workshops were complete. Coverdale hostel also opened and the main lecture theatre with students union and bar.

The 1960s were years of considerable expansion for the horticulture department as the courses offered moved from an emphasis on commercial horticulture, to amenity horticulture, to meet the needs of a growing industry.

The addition of “Horticulture” in the title, when the Institute was renamed the Askham Brayan College of Agriculture and Horticulture in 1967, bears witness to the new importance attached to the department.

During this period of major builds, the landscaping and planting was overseen by P.A. Hemsley, a tree expert from the Edinburgh Botanic Gardens, who had begun his career at Askham Bryan as a student. In 1978 he also took charge of the Museum Gardens in York, when the College won a contract to maintain the gardens until early 90’s.

In February 1974 the College received its first royal visit, by the Duchess of Kent.

A New Millennium

• 2005 - A New Equestrian Centre

• 2017 - Two Flagship Buildings

• 2021 - Looking Ahead – A Digital Evolution

2005 - A New Equestrian Centre

A new equestrian centre was opened in 2005 when horses re-joined the residential population at the College, the last farm horse having previously been sold in 1960.

Five years later the College hosted its first British Eventing Horse Trials in 2010.